Nearly 50 protesters were jailed in April and May during rallies calling for electoral reform, including former UDP leader Ousainou Darboe and other senior figures. Darboe and 18 others were sentenced in July to three years in prison.

Two of the party’s members have died in custody, prompting calls for an investigation from the United Nations and the United States. The government has denied allegations that one of the victims died from torture.

Gambia’s Independent Electoral Commission on Thursday set the election date for Dec. 1. Candidates were requested to submit their applications between Nov.7-10.